Waterproofing compound for leather



Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN EMIL JOHNSON, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA WATERPROOFING COMPOUND FOR LEATHER No Drawing. Application filed September This invention relates to an improved waterproofing compound for leather, particularly for shoes or the like, and has for one of its principal objects the use of means for waterproofing leather, and also for softening the same in the event that it has become hard and tough.

One of the important objects of this. invention is to provide a composition for treating leather and leather products, particularly shoes such as workmens and childrens shoes which will render the same pliable and also impervious to moisture.

Still another and further important ob- Il5 ject of this invention is the provision in a composition for treating leather and the like, particularly shoes and similar objects composed of leather whereby the same will be rendered waterproof and also pliable, and

further will be much more resistant to wear,

thereby making possible considerable additional use.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the following specification.

The invention in a preferred form is hereinafter more fully described.

The principal ingredients comprising the composition of the improved leather treating material of this invention are essentially animal fats such as fish oil and lambs tallow with the addition of a smaller proportion of a mineral oil or grease such as petroleum elly or Vaseline. To this may be added other ingredients for coloring purposes and also an aromatic oil of some sort which will overcome any objectionable smell.

In the preparation of the preferred embodiment of this invention, four parts of fish oil is first preferably heated to a slight degree, and in the meantime two parts of lambs tallow is melted after which six ounces of Vaseline is added to the melted tallow. Thereupon, the combined tallow and Vaseline are slowly added to the fish oil while in the heated state and the mixture continuously and thoroughly stirred or agitated until it begins to cool, and accordingly becomes slightly stiff or thick.

The above composition is of a brownish 5, 1929. Serial No. 390,653.

yellow or tan color and is admirably adapted for the treatment of tan shoes or leather of ordinary shades, and also acts as a useful additional ingredient to the actual tanning process.

5 "F or black shoes approximately one-half pint of lamp black is mixed with fish oil to a pasty constituency, and then poured into the mixture of the heated oil and tallow after which the entire combination is thoroughly stirred while cooling, thereupon becoming stiff and is then ready for use.

In order to properly treat shoes or other articles with this waterproofing composition the same must be cleaned and dried before the wax is applied, care being taken not to impregnate the shoe laces with the oily or waxy material. After the compound has been thoroughly applied completely over the surface of the leather or the shoe, the same P should be allowed to remain in a dry place for from twelve to twenty-four hours. Thereupon, if it is found that the composition has become entirely absorbed by the leather, another coat should be applied, and this process repeated until the leather becomes soft and pliable. This treatment will effectively waterproof the leather and further will render the same more resistant to wear making the shoes last longer.

An aromatic oil such as oil of sassafras, Wintergreen, etc. may be mixed with the ingredients toward the end of the process of preparation so as to overcome any objectionable smell which the fish oil and melted tallow might have.

It will be evident that herein is provided a composition for treating articles of leather such as boots, shoes and the like which is economical to manufacture, readily applied, will not harm the leather in any way, and which on the other hand will render the same waterproof and additionally resistant to wear.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the composition and numerous details in the process of preparation and application varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted herein otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A waterproofing compound for leather including in combination animal fats and mineral oils, said animal fats comprising fish oil and lambs tallow, and said mineral oils comprising petroleum jelly in the following proportions: fish oil, 128 parts; lambs tallow, 64 parts; petroleum jelly, 6 parts, together with a coloring material and an aromatic oil.

2. A process of preparing a waterproofing compound for leather including the melting of 50 to 75 parts of lambs tallow with to 10 parts of petroleum jelly, and the later thorough incorporation of this melted material with approximately 100 to 150 parts of fish oil, continuously stirring and allowing to 0 cool.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN EMIL JOHNSON. 

